Battle of Lucocisterna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Lucocisterna |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Crown of Aragongiudicato of Arborea Malaspina |
 Republic of Pisa |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Alfonso IV of Aragon |
Manfredi della Gherardesca |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 2,000 men-at-arms 800 cavalry |
300+ men-at-arms 200+ cavalry |
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The Battle of Lucocisterna was an important fight that happened on February 29, 1324. It was part of the Aragonese conquest of Sardinia. In this battle, the army of the Crown of Aragon fought against the army from the Republic of Pisa.
The Aragonese army was led by Prince Alfonso IV of Aragon. He was the son of King James II of Aragon. The Pisan army was led by Manfredi della Gherardesca.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
The Pisans wanted to take control of Sardinia. On February 26, 1324, the Pisan army started landing on a beach near Capoterra. This area is west of Cagliari.
Twenty-five Aragonese knights watched them closely. They kept Prince Alfonso IV updated on everything. The Pisan army's first group had about 200 horsemen and 300 foot soldiers. The Aragonese army was much bigger, with 2,000 foot soldiers and 800 horsemen.
The Battle of Lucocisterna
On February 29, Manfredi della Gherardesca split his Pisan army into three groups. He wanted to reach the walled city of Castel di Castro. The Aragonese army was already surrounding this city. Manfredi tried to go around a pond called Santa Gilla. He planned to pass through Uta and Decimomannu.
Prince Alfonso IV wanted to stop the Pisan forces from joining up. So, he decided to fight them at Lucocisterna. This was on the way to the castle. The battle was very fierce and violent.
The Pisan knights charged forward with great force. But the Aragonese soldiers, called Almogavars, bravely stopped them. Both commanders were hurt after two strong attacks.
Manfredi della Gherardesca was hit hard in the face. He lost his helmet and his horse. He was badly wounded and had to leave the battlefield. He went to Castel di Cagliari with some of his soldiers. This seemed to change how the battle was going. Some Pisan soldiers made it to the castle. But many knights and foot soldiers who stayed behind died fighting. Others sank in the muddy waters of Santa Gilla pond because of their heavy armor.
Prince Alfonso of Aragon was also knocked off his horse. But two brave nobles, Santa Pau and a Cervellón, saved him. They fought hard to protect the prince. They also made sure the Aragonese flag did not fall into Pisan hands.
Enrico the Teutonic, a Pisan fighter, was also in this battle. He had been given the job of finding and killing the Aragonese commander. Enrico managed to wound Prince Alfonso. But then Enrico died in a fight against the Prince.
What Happened After
During the battle, the Pisans killed or wounded 160 Aragonese soldiers. The Pisans lost more, with 100 horsemen and 200 foot soldiers killed. When Manfredi finally arrived with more soldiers, the battle was already over.
On the same day, the Pisan navy was defeated. This happened in the Gulf of Cagliari. The Aragonese Admiral Francis Carroz led the winning navy. Many Pisans were captured during this sea battle. The Battle of Lucocisterna was the only major battle fought on land between Pisa and Aragon during the whole war.
Remembering the Battle
Stories about this battle and the conquest of Sardinia were written down. Peter IV the Ceremonious, who was Alfonso IV's son, wrote about them. His writings have been very helpful for historians who study this time.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Lucocisterma para niños
